Cold-hearted, hard-headed strategy

This is a long-term strategy guaranteed to make a few more enemies and generate a lot of respect.

http://yeoldecrabb.com/2014/09/08/strategy-any-one/

“But just as the attack on Pearl Harbor alerted a recalcitrant nation, however far current leadership has drifted away the country should be reminded that 9/11 was proof that ‘the splendid isolation’ of the U.S. from the rest of the world’s troubles during the 19th century is long past history.”